[Bf-python] How to copy MVerts?

[Tron Thomas]

I am working with export geometry from Blender.  Currently when an 
object like a cube is created, Blender only provide 8 vertices for that 
cube.  This means that there are only 8 normal vectors.  However each 
vertex of a cube is shared between 3 different face and therefore 24 
normal vectors are needed to define all the faces for the cube.  I am 
interested in copying each vertex so that there will be 24 vertices with 
24 normals vectors when defining the cube geometry.

By default Python creates additional references to objects rather than 
copies.  Attempts to use copy.copy and copy.deepcopy on MVerts causes 
run time errors.

How can I make copies of the cube vertices using the Python scripting API's?